Special Coverage

Stalking trip looks ideal for Laguna Pointe

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Tense Wager, Hold the Game, and Laguna Pointe finished less than a length apart in last month's Burlingame Handicap at Bay Meadows.

The 3-year-old fillies renew their rivalry in Sunday's feature, a one-mile allowance race that goes as race 2.

Tense Wager lost by a nose to Cosmic Lady in the Burlingame. Hold the Game was third, beaten a neck, with favored Laguna Pointe fourth, beaten a half-length.

was favored in the Burlingame and set the pace when no one else seemed interested in being on the lead that day despite a strong speed bias. She has stalked in the past, but the new tactics seemed to be working well before she hit the proverbial brick wall in the stretch.

She can return to her preferred stalking trip here behind Hot Nose and Queenmab'sdaughter, the likely leaders who both are making their first start around two turns. The chance to sit just off the pace should improve Laguna Pointe's chances.

Hold the Game seemed much the best in the Burlingame. She was last early before rallying against the speed bias. She was blocked, bumped, and forced to steady hard into the lane. When Hold the Game finally got clear, she unleashed the strongest finish to get into the four-way photo.

Based on that performance, she could be tough to beat here for trainer Ed Moger Jr., who has had a strong meeting, winning at a strong 27 percent pace and hitting the board nearly two-thirds of the time.

Tense Wager has already won a stakes, the Courtship as a 2-year-old, and placed second in her other two stakes tries.

Detention barn for two trainers

Horses running for trainers Jamey Thomas and Ray Thomas will be placed in detention stalls on the day before they race after horses they train tested positive for alkalizing agents. The horses were Seven Way Shake (Jamey Thomas) and Bailey's Yodeler (Ray Thomas). The 30-day detention period started on Friday for both trainers.

Trainer Daniel Franko's horses recently completed a 30-day detention period after Haint It Hot tested above the allowed level in late January.